Ben Blowes' 15-hour workout raised nearly £5,000 for frontline health workers.

Orla Moore
BBC News

Here's a quick look at the stories making the newspaper headlines across Essex:

• The Mayor of Saffron Walden and his wife are being treated for pneumonia complications after they were diagnosed with coronavirus, according to the Reporter, external
• The Southend Echo, external is reporting that workers at the Argos warehouse in Basildon say it is "busier than Christmas", triggering worries they are at risk with no personal protection equipment
• Tributes have been paid to a St Osyth dad at Ipswich Hospital a day after he was diagnosed with coronavirus, reports the Colchester Gazette, external

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

A group of sewing machinists has begun a campaign to raise money for material to make “scrubs” - the clothes that frontline NHS staff wear on duty.

The 16 machinists call themselves the Felixstowe Scrubbers and have already smashed their initial target of £500 needed to buy fabric to make scrubs for the Ipswich and Colchester hospitals.

Image source, Felixstowe Scrubbers

"There is a shortage in supply of scrubs to frontline NHS staff and by providing them with this essential piece of clothing we are enabling them to stay comfortable whilst on duty," said the group's Sew Scrubs for Ipswich Hospital Facebook page, external.

"We have calculated that it will cost around £12 to make up one set of scrubs. If you can give anything to help keep our NHS staff safe that would be amazing and really appreciated!"

When artists go viral on the popular video app does it guarantee them a big hit in the music charts?

A car mounted the pavement and hit three men as they were leaving a pub.

Richard Haugh
BBC Music Introducing in Suffolk

A small independent music venue has a new project called Lock East to support local artists by sharing video content and their tracks.

The Smokehouse in Ipswich has had to close due to coronavirus lockdown, so the venue is offering them a new platform for performance.

Image source, Miff Pleasant

"We may not be able to provide a physical stage, but we can provide a platform for new music from the area," said a spokesman for the South Street venue."Check out our Lock East platform at The Smokehouse, external. We want to hear from you. Send us your tracks."

Rushmere Golf Club says people sunbathed and ate on fairways despite the coronavirus restrictions.

St Elizabeth Hospice nurses are expecting to be working alongside the NHS over the coming weeks providing end-of-life care and bereavement services to families.

The Ipswich hospice launched an appeal for personal protective equipment.

Ipswich School has responded by providing special equipment for nurses working in hazardous areas and the hospice has responded with this Facebook post: "A huge thank you to Ipswich School , external who have provided our nurses with PPE visors. We greatly appreciate it!"

Image source, Ali Waggie

A group of photographers has come together again to document life during the coronavirus crisis.

• Coronavirus: 24 hours on lockdown

it features photos from St Albans, Watford and Ipswich.

Image source, Sarah Lucy Brown

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

A golf course said it had to stop people playing golf, having picnics and playing in bunkers over the weekend.

Rushmere Golf Club, external, in Ipswich, said "large groups of people, many ignoring social-distancing" had gathered on the course - which is built on common land and has public footpaths criss-crossing it.

Image source, Google

Steve Potts, chairman, said: "We were very disappointed to find our golf course was teeming with people... completely ignoring government rules.

"Three of our green-keepers did a staggered time of patrolling to try to encourage people to disperse to protect the course but really feeling a responsibility to ensure the public were adhering to the rules.

"The majority were understanding and prepared to move on.. but our green-keeping staff were almost overwhelmed with people and found it very, very difficult and incredibly surprising."

He said it was "absolutely fine" to walk across it for your daily exercise but "try not to use the bunkers as sandpits" or ride bicycles across the greens.

Tamara McAuley, from Newmarket in Suffolk, designed the hearts in the health service's colour.

Warm weather is expected but the coronavirus lockdown remains in place, authorities warn.

The boss of Ipswich Hospital said "we are seeing the best and worst of society" during the coronavirus lockdown after an employee's bike was stolen from outside the building.

Karl Kroger tweeted a photo of his bicycle that he said was stolen from outside the Heath Road hospital on Thursday.

Nick Hulme, chief executive of the East Suffolk and North Essex Foundation Trust, external, said he could not understand why anyone would steal a bike from a healthcare worker "anytime, let alone now".

Since Mr Kroger's tweet, he has since been offered a replacement bike by a member of the public and Elmy Cycles, external in Ipswich has offered to service it for free "if it helps Karl get back on the road".

Suffolk Police said the bike was stolen from the rack near the hospital entrance between 07:30 and 17:45. It had been locked to the rack with a cable which had been cut.

Image source, The Marquis

A pub is providing free biscuits, cake and bread to those self-isolating or vulnerable who need help.

The team at The Marquis at Layham in south Suffolk wanted to do their bit so a number of the chefs volunteered to do some baking, the pub owner said.

If you’re in the Raydon, Layham, East Bergholt or Hadleigh area and need a bit of help get in touch with the the pub via its Facebook page, external or call 01473 377977.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

A series of outdoor summer concerts that would have brought former Oasis mainman Noel Gallagher back to Suffolk has been called off.

Forestry England, external has cancelled Forest Live 2020, external at all its venues, including High Lodge Visitor Centre in Thetford Forest, because of coronavirus restrictions.

A spokesman said: “We really hope that everyone’s support to fight COVID-19 means the situation will have improved by the summer.

"As well as our valued customers, we work with a large number of volunteers, artists and contractors to make these concerts happen and have taken this decision in the interest of safety for everyone involved."

Ticket holders will be automatically refunded but Forestry England asked for everyone's "patience and understanding at this busy time".

These were the headline acts that had been due to appear the venue at Santon Downham in Suffolk:

• Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - 18 June
• James Morrison and Will Young - 19 June
• Madness - 20 June
• Rag‘n’Bone Man - 21 June

Rag'n'Bone Man recently played a surprise gig in Gorleston in Norfolk as a favour for his dad.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

Ipswich market, external traders have decided to suspend operations until further notice to comply with government rules that people should stay at home to reduce the spread of coronavirus.

"Everyone was disappointed they can't continue to trade," market spokesman and fishmonger Mike Youngs said.

He said the weeks leading up to the decision were very nervy and the traders had regular meetings to discuss the future.

The traders had to decide whether to buy new stock which could have left them "in a pickle", Mr Youngs said.

Some of the traders donated remaining stock to worthwhile causes.

Ipswich Borough Council, external said the town centre had seen a 70% drop in footfall this week compared with before the start of the government’s main coronavirus measures.

On Tuesday, 31 March, just under 4,000 people were recorded on town centre sensors, rather than 14,000 people on Tuesday, 10 March or 18,000 people on the busiest Tuesday in December.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News Online

Sheltered housing condemned as unsuitable for habitation last year has been brought up to scratch in seven days.

East Suffolk Council, external transformed the property in Avenue Mansions in Lowestoft to help accommodate vulnerable people during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Image source, East Suffolk Council

Eight flats were left empty because the water systems had been drained down, and the heating, electrical and fire detection systems had been decommissioned.

Richard Kerry, cabinet member for housing, said: "It was a huge challenge to get these flats to a standard where they could be brought back into use … and the seven-day turnaround is evidence of the effort that everyone involved put in to make it happen."

Stuart Howells
BBC reporter

Covid-19 may be causing problems for everyone but people in Suffolk are pulling together to Make a Difference:

• Volunteer-led project Baby Basics Lowestoft, external aims to support new mothers and is appealing on Facebook for prams, also cots, bouncy chairs and microwave or cold water sterilisers

• Jane Palmer, new owner of the Oyster Inn and village store, external at Butley, is offering free meals to nursery and school children and vulnerable folk working with The Teapot Project and other community groups

Image source, Oyster Inn

• A support group in Coddenham has put flyers through every door of the village to try and help anybody that needs help - phone 01449 760429 or visit Coddenham Parish, external

• Bramford is going to be doing a daily "Dancing on the Doorstep" at 11:00 to David Bowie and Mick Jagger's version of Dancing In The Street... at safe distances

To set up a scheme to help people in your area contact Community Action Suffolk, external for advice on 01473 345400.

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

People across the UK have taken part in a second "Clap for Carers" tribute, saluting NHS staff and other key workers dealing with coronavirus.

Delivery drivers, supermarket staff, care workers and bin collectors were among those honoured.

People across the UK have taken part in a second Clap For Our Carers tribute, saluting NHS staff and other key workers on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic.

Delivery drivers, supermarket staff, care workers and bin collectors were among those honoured by the nation with thousands across the East of England joining in the moment at 20:00 GMT on Thursday.

Households banged pots and pans, while others played the bagpipes to show their support.